Freightliner New Zealand has announced the current generation Argosy model will not be replaced.

The company says the much-loved American cabover model will depart New Zealand showrooms in early 2020, the same year the company launches the all-new Freightliner Cascadia.

The iconic Argosy nameplate was introduced in New Zealand in 1999 and soon developed a strong following among customers.

“The Argosy has been a very popular model in New Zealand thanks to its low tare, spacious cab and its tough American powerplant, in a package developed for maximum productivity,” says Daimler Truck and Bus New Zealand senior manager, Pieter Theron.

Australia and New Zealand are the only markets in the world where the Argosy is sold, after the nameplate exited the US market in 2004 and the South African market in 2014.

“In 2020, we will say goodbye to the much-loved Argosy and welcome the advanced Cascadia, a model that will signal the start a new and exciting era for Freightliner in New Zealand,” Theron says.

Currently, the Argosy is available with the choice of Detroit 15-litre DD15, a 15-litre Cummins ISX or X15 in-line six-cylinder engines.

The Argosy is a striking example of continuous improvement, with key changes being made in response to customer feedback over the years. These include a range of measures to improve refinement levels and reinforcement of the innovative automatic fold-out step for increased durability and safety.